1st National Arnis Congress a Success!
by Tambuli Media
Original article at: http://www.tambulimedia.com/2017/01/14/1st-national-arnis-congress-success/
by Bambit Dulay
Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri called for unity among arnis organizations and practitioners during the opening of the 1st Arnis Congress at the Philippine Red Cross Multi-Purpose Hall in Mandaluyong City on Thursday.
Zubiri, an arnis practitioner himself, is the author of Republic Act 9850 or Arnis Law declaring arnis as the national martial art and sport of the Philippines.
Over 250 practitioners from more than 100 organizations attended the event, which is said to be the largest historical gathering of arnisador (arnis practitioner) to date.
“This gathering is the biggest gathering in our history and in my experience as an arnisador since 1986. Grandmasters of major styles of arnis all over the country from Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao are here and screaming in one voice that we would be united,” said Zubiri in an interview.
Zubiri lamented the fact that arnis is more respected and appreciated in the United States and Europe.
“Many of our international organizations present here have their respective international headquarters in America and Germany. Why is it that arnis is more popular there unlike in our own country?”
“Now we are taking a hands-on approach with the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) and I am so happy with the support of PSC Chairman William Ramirez,” he said.
According to Zubiri, PSC is the lead agency mandated by law to assist in the creation of a national unified organization for arnis.
“Under the law, it is he (Ramirez) who will lead us to this direction,” he said.
Zubiri said that the new unified organization will be called Alliance of Filipino Martial Arts or AFMA but the name is yet to be registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Ramirez has pledged to fund the organization to boost arnis’ popularity in its homeland.
“We are committed to support them financially so that Filipino Martial Arts (FMA) will really grow,” said Ramirez.
“We don’t ask any budget from PSC. As a matter of fact, we have sponsors for this but we welcome the move of the Chairman to help financially but I promised and told him earlier that we will make sure that every centavo will be liquidated if ever we will be needing their help,” Zubiri added.
Zubiri stressed that AFMA will be inclusive, democratic and consultative.
“We will not scrap or discriminate any organizations. As a matter of fact, we are extending our hands of support and welcome the group of Raymond Velayo so that they may join us in this organization.”
Velayo is the president of Arnis Philippines, the national sports association of arnis, under the Philippine Olympic Committee.
“Let us work together because this is an alliance of FMA. This is not just one organization but an alliance of all FMA,” said Zubiri. … [Read more...]

Los Angeles City Hall Celebrate 117th Philippine Independence Day/Araw ng Kalayaan with Kapisanang Mandirigma/Mandirigma.org. June 12th, 2015. Los Angeles, California.
Los Angeles City Hall to celebrated the 117th Philippine Independence Day or Araw ng Kalayaan. The event was organizes by the Los Angeles Association of City Employees. Kapisanang Mandirigma/Mandirigma.org demonstrated a sample of the Warrior Arts of the Philippines at the event. In particular the Arts of Lameco Eskrima and Kali Ilustrisimo. This is the second time Kapisanang Mandirigma has appeared at L.A. City Hall. The last time was for the official dedication of L.A. Historic Filipinotown in 2002. The first official Filipinotown in the country. Guro Bud Balani and Guro Dino Flores was assisted by Guro Johnathan Balani, Mark Ramos and Daniel Parker. Their performance was after the flag ceremony in the main building forecourt. The Flag c Ceremony consisted of Filipino-American law enforcement officers parading with various flags of the Philippine Revolution. Los Angeles has the largest population of Filipinos outside of the Philippines. Mabuhay Ang Pilipinas!
City of Los Angeles official dedication to the celebration.
The demo team with Master Joe Tan of Modified Tapados/Vinias Eskrima Systems.
Guro Bud Balani, Dr. A.S. Flores, Guro Dino Flores
Demo Team in action headed by Guro Johnathan Balani.
Event program.
Guro Dino and Guro Johnathan demonstrating single sword techniques as Guro Bud narrates.
Filipino-American Law Enforcement Officers parading various flags of the Philippine Revolution.
The Eskrima Demo team.
Guro Bud Balani and Guro Dino Flores.
Filipino-American Law Enforcement Officers parading various flags of the Philippine Revolution.
Los Angeles City Hall and L.A. Sister Cities.
Photos property of Mandirigma.org. Photographer Dr. A.S. Flores. … [Read more...]

Kapisanang Mandirigma and other Eskrima Groups to perform at the
22nd Festival of Philippine Arts and Culture, 2013 in Los Angeles
http://fpacpahayag.wordpress.com/2013/05/13/martial-artists/
The iconic festival and annual celebration returns, now in its 22nd year! FilAm ARTS invites you to join us Sep.7-8 at Pt Fermin Park for the largest and longest-running community tradition in Southern California -- the only event where you can see over 500 artists & performers from all over the world entertain you and 25,000 of your closest friends & family!
Advance tickets are available at http://fpac22.eventbrite.com/
Whether it's your first time or 22nd, it's always a party at FPAC. Bring everyone you can to the Filipino party of the year!
FPAC is produced by FilAm ARTS - the Association for the Advancement of Filipino American Arts & Culture, a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization, and sponsored by the City of Los Angeles, LA County Arts Commission, California Arts Council, National Endowment for the Arts, California Community Foundation, Toyota, The Getty Foundation, LA-18, Mavshack, The Asian Journal, Weekend Balita, BakitWhy.com, Oishi Media, The James Irvine Foundation, and LEAP, Inc.
Martial Artists
Posted on May 13, 2013
Nick Papadakis
Kombat Instruments Ltd.
Nick “Pappy” Papadakis has 30 years experience in the martial arts with over 100 fights in the Dog Brothers Gathering of the Pack.
Instructor Pekiti Tirsia Kali, Full Instructor Dog Brothers Martial Arts, Blue Belt BJJ, 2nd degree black belt North American Self Defense Institute
Kombat Instruments Ltd. is a company created to serve the needs of combat martial artists by providing durable gear for full-contact stick fighting and weapon matches.
For more information on Nick or Kombat Instruments Ltd visit www.bloodsport.com
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Master Joe Tan
Modern Tapado
Joe feels very lucky and privileged to have trained personally and forged friendship with the original founders of these three Arnis groups that have made their own unique contributions in the propagation of Stick fighting as an Art. He has lot to share with the world.
Tapado is an Original Filipino Martial Art which came from a Hiligaynon ( a Filipino dialect) word ‘Tapat’ or ‘Tapos’ which means – finished or done in english.or to finish the job in one strike.
For more information visit www.mastertapadoarnis.com
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Willie Laureano
FMA Instructor
Guro Willie Laureano is a Kali, Silat, and Kickboxing instructor at Elite Training Center. Willie says, “I am proud to be associated with Elite Training Center where I offer the best in all aspects of the Martial way including physical training respect and confidence.” Willie has lots of Martial Arts training and teaching experience. He has even trained and taught under Guro Dan Inosanto. He has also trained and taught alongside many notable instructors from around the world.
Elite Training Center is a martial arts school focusing on self-defense and fitness. Teaching confidence while respecting others, they are founded on the four principals of Respect, Honor, Discipline, and Strength. Techniques include LOTAR®(Close Quarter Battle techniques) and Krav Maga (intuitive self-defense independent of strength or size), Muay Thai kickboxing, Adult Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) as sport, Youth MMA that emphasizes our founding principles, and Kali/Silat/Eskrima (Filipino open hand and stick fighting).
For more information visit www.elitetrainingcenter.net
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Dino Flores
The Kapisanang Mandirigma Eskrima Training Institute
Guro Dino has taught numerous seminars and classes over the years. He has appeared on Television, Instructional Videos, Independent Film and Radio Shows promoting the arts. He has contributed to magazine article for publications such as “Masters”, “Blitz” and “FMA Digest. Guro Dino has also contributed to book publications including “Masters of the Blade” and “Warrior Arts of the Philippines”. He is currently working on several book and video projects for various masters. Guro Dino has conducted numerous seminars, lectures and demonstrations. Including conferences at UCLA, Cal State Fullerton, University of California Irvine, Loyola Marymount University, Glendale College, Cherry Blossom Festival, Lotus Festival, Philippie Tourism Expo, Sports Expo in Manila, Balintawak Cuentada Gathering Las Vegas and The Festival of Philippine Arts & Culture to name a few. Guro Dino was one of the first instructors invited to the World Filipino Martial Arts Association EXPO in Seattle, Washinton in 1993. One of his proudest moments was to be one of two cultural groups (the othe one being traditional dance) to perform in the world famous Los Angeles City Hall during the televised dedication of the the very first official … [Read more...]

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